(Credit for YoRHa recital translations goes to Mintychu and Translations from the "YoRHa" stage play goes to RekkaAlexiel of Nier2 dot com)
Turn back the clock.
(October 20th, 11946)
I agreed to help restore A2's memories.
At this point, it is a matter of necessity. I read somewhere that a man shouldn't make a woman cry . I never understood why, but I don't think they were unwise words. In fact, I felt that if I made 2B cry, that I was worst than the Machines.
Sometimes I shrugged off my injury as nothing major, even though it was, so I wouldn't make 2B worry.
It didn't work. It never worked. No matter what happened to me, her tears would swell up and she would cling to my chest, asking me if I was okay. She'd scream at me, calling me selfish.
I am. I am selfish. We are both selfish. What we are about to do will destroy Pascal mentally. I do not feel alright doing this idea, even if it works. His memories need to be repressed. He is better off not knowing what he has done, or what has been done to him, but...
I want to live. Pascal, I want you to live as well.
I want you to live with knowing the truth.
*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~
We were together, walking together to the resistance camp. 2B and Pascal were in front of me, holding my shackles that were attached to my forearms. The shackles were tight, but the pain from my rusted circuits felt like a sharp fire. Bridges had been built in the interim across some of the openings that were created after the earthquake, so we didn't need to jump over them anymore. As we walked closer to the camp, we stopped on one to contact Anemone.
Pascal placed his hand next to his temple, and sent a communication.
"Anemone, this is Pascal. We are almost there."
"Anemone here. I understand. Are you positive that he is in a stable condition?"
"Yes. Yes he is. He has stated that he fully intends to revive A2, to the best of his ability."
"Alright then. 9S, I know you can hear me, so listen up. If I find out that you are here to sabotage A2's mainframe, I will kill you. She is attached to a support system that checks if she is still operational. If she is reported OFFLINE for any moment of time during the operation, I am sure you understand the consequences."
"Yeah..."
A dagger of a stare shot back at me.
"...I understand."
2B's eyes returned forward.
"With that out of the way, we will contemplate your restrictions to the base after the operation. For all parties involved, I pray for its success. See you soon. Anemone, out."
With that, Pascal removed his hand.
"She doesn't know why you agreed to this, 9S. I...would like to keep it that way."
"I would as well. Are you sure you want to go through this Pascal?"
"I cannot run from my past. Not any more, and if it means I can save your life, then it is worth remembering."
"Let's go." ordered 2B.
Something about her voice...gets me...there.
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"ENTER."
A deep male's voice resonated in the alleyway into the camp. In the background, someone had played "The Tower" on the jukebox.
As we walked into the camp, androids with assault rifles were lined into the medical area were A2 lay. Walking through, the androids followed their rifles to me. Anemone stared from her usual place next to her desk. One last android was placed next to A2's stretcher, with a handgun.
He was my executioner should I fail.
This was another operation. Another mission. I had to complete it. This time, was different. It wasn't for mankind, or even androidkind. It wasn't for me. It was for her. No, it was for the both of them. It's time to make things right, A2.
2B and Pascal undid my shackles as I stood above A2. I heard multiple rifles shuffle and cock. Rough crowd.
"Let's cut to the chase. 9S, revive A2." she yelled from afar. She was still bandaged.
"Alright. No pressure, right?"
I cleared my throat from any particles. "Before I start this, I wanted to say something."
"What the hell are you doing, Nines?" whispered an audibly irritated 2B.
"Just gimme a sec." I whispered back.
"My actions have been inexcusable. I am sorry to the Resistance for causing the circumstances that have led up to this point, and betraying the person who gave us room and board during the 14th Machine War. I am truly sorry."
"Nines...Are you insane? What is the point of this?" she whispered louder.
"And to 2B. If I fail, don't follow the path I took. Live on without me. Don't give into the rage."
"Wait, NINES! What are you say-?"
*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~
I hacked into A2 at that moment. I had to get it off my chest. Anemone is the perfect soldier. I had assumed that if I failed at the attempt or sabotaged A2, that I would be killed either way. The failure could be seen as an attempt for me to place her into infinite inactivation. As long as my body stay lifeless out there, we shouldn't have any problems. 2B and I are pretty similar, though. We both have issues. She would fight to keep my body alive if I failed, knowing that she could singlehandedly kill the camp. I didn't want her to do that. I wanted her to move on if I failed.
Thankfully, I am not by myself in here. Pod 153 is always with me, annoying as it is.
I entered into A2's mind. It was dark. There was no illumination of any sort. I also appeared in my virtual form instead of my shooter form. Usually, the shooter form was the initial form used on hacking. No biggie.
I conjured a sword made of data just in case. If A2 is fully inactive, I shouldn't have any issues. I just need to find where her OS is stationed, reactivate it, and get the hell out of here.
"Pod 153, initiate illumination protocol."
"Protocol initiated."
Didn't help much, or at all. It was like shining a flashlight into an endless dark room. Why is it so dark in here?
I walked forward.
"153, why is it so dark in here?"
"It seems that the lack of light is due to the energy which is being used to keep unit A2 alive. It has been determined non-vital for prolonged shutdown operations."
"Hmm. Alright. What other processes are running keeping her on?"
"Scanning...scanning...scanning complete. Current protocols running are: Water saving, Low Energy Mode, Low Processing, Underclock, and Core Memories."
"Core memories? Why would that run under vital processes?"
I need to investigate.
"153, are the Core Memories accessible for reading?"
"Affirmative. Accessing."
"You've gotten pretty bold, 153. You knew what I was going to order, and did it without me telling you."
"I know you well, 9S."
This cocky box of logic.
"Well, tell me what you found out."
I waited for what felt like 5 minutes, but in the real world, time has virtually stopped. Everything we are doing will be near instantaneous on the outside, but here, the clock runs slower, and I feel it.
"Playing memories."
"AHH! Don't scare me like that, 153!" Damn box just started talking in the dark!
As I stood there in the darkness, a screen formed in front of me. I saw a jungle, thick and dense in the background, with a city that had fell to ruin faintly in the distance. The water was crystal blue, but the sky was hazy. Fires sprouted from various points across the jungle. The screen moved sporadically like it was through someone's eyes.
The sway of trees were mixed with the sound of metal footsteps.
Machines.
The camera panned to an android.
"Unit YoRHa Gunner No.16. From now I declare my new designation to defend Mt. Ka'ala with the Resistance."
"But No. 16, you..."
"No. 2… er, Captain. If we make it back, let's kick the Commander's ass, okay? "
The memory faded. This is A2's memories, when she was known as YoRHa Prototype Attacker Unit No. 2.
Another memory came into view. This time, it was in a large room. The walls were covered in basalt and various pipes and vents jettisoned from various crevices. The Red Girls, the ego known as N2, was floating in the air as holograms. Breathing was ragged.
"No. 4!"
"I'm sorry... I didn't do a very good job, did I?"
"Of course, you did! It's all my fault… getting all of you caught up in this…"
"You're wrong, No. 2. We all made our own decision to come here… Thank you, for giving us a reason to live…"
The screen turns black.
"Bye."
"No. 4!"
An explosion is heard. The screen stays black.
The screen returns. The Red Girls show up again in the same room but No. 4 is still there, alive. The Red Girls begin to talk. These memories are not in any order.
"The YoRHa squadron were created as experimental weapons," the first Red Girl stated.
"Everything was pre-planned by your headquarters, even your unplanned battles and dire circumstances," the second one followed.
"Even if you take this server, the Bio-machines won't feel a thing."
"Humanity will use your experimental data to create more perfect androids in the future. "
"...That would mean, they meant for this to happen from the very beginning." A2 said.
The screen returns to black again. I had no idea this had happened in this much detail. The records at the Bunker redacted the information for the Pearl Harbor Decent Mission.
Another memory plays into view. It is still within the same basalt covered structure, but it is next to an elevator. There are many androids and YoRHa units in the elevator. One gets out.
"No. 21, what is it?"
"Please go on ahead."
"Why?! You have to come with us…"
"I want to, but… If I don't keep working on this, the elevator will stop before it's reached the server room. That's why I must stay here and continue hacking it."
"No… I can't leave you…"
"I'll stay behind and support No 21. Everyone, go down to the server room!" Anemone yells, rushing out of the elevator.
"No. 21…"
The screen finally stops playing memories. It is 153 and I, standing in the void.
"Well. That was damn depressing. I didn't know about that. It seems that N2 told A2 the truth, and YoRHa intended her to die."
"1." A voice called out from the void in all directions. What was that?
"3, 4, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, Rose, Daisy, Aster, Dahlia, Clematis, Kalmia, Sonia, Erica, Marguerite, Lily, Seed, and even 9. How many have I lost to YoRHa?"
"Um...Hello?" I called out to the void. There was nothing. 153 scanned around with its pointless light and found nothing.
"The Machines were just as guilty. Only one Machine was worth my time, and even they devoured their own."
"A2? Is that you? I'm here to...uh...wake you up." I am not liking this at all.
"Tell me, 9S, do you think the seventh time is the charm?"
"Sevent-"
A pixelated sword comes swinging at me through 153's light. I put up my own and it resounds a large clank that resonates through the darkness.
"A2! I'm not your enemy!"
"Prove it."
She turns around and aims to my head. I jump backwards into the darkness, and she disappears. I look left and right trying to figure out where she is, but I hear no footsteps or anything indicating her location.
I knew something was up when I didn't spawn in shooter mode.
"You are the enemy, 9S. You became one when you tried to wake me up."
Another sword strike launched from behind me. 153's flashlight turned around fast enough to see her movements to parry the strike.
I used both hands to lift the first strike to the side and rushed my shoulder into her chest. She staggered back into the void.
"You had every chance to kill me when you found me. Why didn't you be a man and FINISH THE JOB?"
The word "job" echoed over and over, like a voice fading into a long hallway. This is a nightmare. If this was a mission to kill, it'd be a lot easier.
Or maybe not. Currently 0-6 against A2. This one starting to look like 0-7.
"I have no reason to kill you, A2. I need you to come back. I need help."
"Ha. HA! You need help? Well isn't that hilarious. I thought that shoulder charge was weak as shit, but this? Needing my help? Now you don't even sound like a man."
I'm not a man. I'm just a...
No. I am a man. Just not yours.
"Fight me, A2, instead of hiding. Who taunts from the shadows? No one but a coward."
"Looks like you grew some gears down there. Let's see if they make you move."
The lights flash on. We stand in an open space full of light, A2's cold eyes glance at me. She doesn't smile, but I felt that she wanted to smirk at me. She pointed her sword at me.
"9S. Give me a reason...to go on."
A reason? I don't know what to say. I didn't think this was going to happen. I thought I would just hack into A2, perform a soft reboot, log off, and happy rainbows. Didn't think I would be counterhacked by a raging woman.
"A reason...to go on... Okay..um...well, you see..."
A2 instantaneously brings the edge of her sword to my neck and nearly pierces it. I flinch and gasp. I knew it was a killing blow, but she stopped.
"A2! A2! Can you hear me? It's Pascal. Please wake up!"
Pascal! He must have tried to hack in here as well. It was only his voice though.
"...9S, why the hell Pascal's here?"
"We needed his help to build me a replacement part. A2, I'm hurt, and I needed his help."
"Does he know what I did to him?"
"Yes."
"Shit. Shit, shit, SHIT."
I get kicked in the stomach hard and roll against the floor. I know it is digital, but it still felt like a kick to the stomach. I cough horribly and stagger to get up.
"Why are you even alive, 9S? You should be dead, including me."
"2B *cough* is alive, too. *cough*"
"What the hell. What kind of divine comedy is this? Why are we back?"
"The Pods. They restored our bodies and our memories. They went against YoRHa protocol and decided they didn't like the hand we were dealt. So we are here."
"So you are saying that little shit behind you is the reason why I can't join my friends?"
"Um...yeah."
"Your acknowledgement is appreciated." replied 153.
"This is so frigging stupid." A2 sighed while grabbing her head.
"Well, I promised a few people that I would revive you, and I kinda need your help right now. I know Pascal and Anemone would love to see you. 2B as well."
A2 raises her hilt high into the sky and slams the sword into the platform we stood on with considerable force. It shatters as it reaches the ground.
"I know you want me to restore Pascal's memories. You have no idea how much it hurt him to lose his family. I couldn't bring myself to kill him when he requested it. You are honestly a selfish mother-"
"I know. I know..."
"Wake me up, asshole."
Sheesh. She's so angry.
*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~
I woke up to 2B with the handgun to my temple, and A2 staring at me with her trademark scowl.
"I convinced them that if anyone were to pull the trigger, I would do it. Your speech did not convince anyone that you weren't going to sabotage A2. It just made it worse."
"What do you mean? And could you put down the gun?!"
She lowered her pistol. Talk about being between a rock and a rock.
"The way you spoke made everyone think you were going in with an intent to fail."
"Oh."
"This is kind of weird for me. I think this is the first time we have been this close and haven't tried to kill each other...I don't like it. And why is your and 2B's hair black?" A2 spoke as she sat up from the stretcher.
"No. 2!" yelled Anemone. "Put your guns down everyone. Everything is fine." She ran over to the stretchers, shoving the riflemen out the way in the process.
"Hey there, Anemone. Long time, no see."
"No. 2. I am happy that 9S was able to revive you. So much has happened since you were gone. We almost lost you."
"How so?"
"Well, when we found you, some androids tried to kill you, and 9S had an episode when he saw you again."
Episode, she says.
"That doesn't surprise me. However, 9S tends to fail in his missions regarding my disposal."
HEY. I do not need this kind of heckling! Doesn't anyone think I did a decent job bringing her back?
"Thank you, Nines." 2B's chin rested on my skull and her arms wrapped around my neck.
"I was so scared."
I reached my own gloved hand against her arm.
"Me, too."